Pressure-regulator.



No. 690,678. Patented Dec. 3|, I90I.

P. H. REARDUN.

PRESSURE REGULATOR.

(Application filed July 6, IQOOJ (No Model.)-

HE Nonms PETERS c0. mmmmmu WASHINGTON, n, c,

lJNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK H. REARDON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PRESSURE-REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 690,078, dated December 31, 1901.

Application filed July 6, 1900. Serial No. 22,751. (No model.)

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PATRICK H. REARDON, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pressure-Regulators; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention relates to a pressure-relieving device adapted to control the operation of power-driven air-compressors.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient device to avoid the excessive and unnecessary duty on the engine driving an air-compressor after the maximum pressure required in the receiver is attained. This object is accomplished by means of the device illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which shows a vertical section of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, 1 is a length of pipe or casing adapted to be interposed in the ordinary discharge-pipe of the compressor, between the compressor and the receiver. The upper portion of this casing is slightly enlarged and is provided with a valve 2, opening upward or in the direction of the receiver, suitably guided to insure its proper seating, and normally closed by the pressure in the receiver. A perforated hood or plate 3 is located above this valve to protect the valveguide from oil and dirt. Beneath valve 2, in pipe 1 and preferably located transverse to said pipe, is a piston 4, fitting snugly but freely movable in cylinder 5. The outer end of this cylinder is provided with a pass-by or passage 6, connecting the end of the'cylinder with the pipe or casing above the valve 2 and in free communication with the receiverpressure, which pressure is thus constantly exerted upon the outer end of piston 4. Se-

cured in piston 41 is a stem or rod 7, provided with a valve 8, secured upon its other end. This valve is of somewhat peculiar construction, being provided with an annular extension 8, with a cylindrical or inwardly-projecting flange or rib 8 Valve 8 is located and guided in an opening or port in the side of pipe 1, at the outer end of which opening is provided a suitable seat 9 for valve 8 to form a valve-controlled opening to the exterior of the pipe 1. Besides the valve-seat 9 is an outer trued surface 9, over which the cylindrical rib 8 fits.

A bell-crank lever 10 is provided, pivoted upon a suitable bracket 11, preferably attached to the pipe 1. The short arm 12 of the bell-crank lever 10 rests against the valve 8, preferably through the intervention of the hinged bearing-piece 13, jointed to the upper end of arm 12, its free end bearing against the valve 8 or stem 7, to which the valve is secured. A suitable weight or counterpoise 14 is adjustably secured upon lever 10.

The device is so simple that its operation is obvious from its construction, so that an extended description of its operation is not deemed necessary.

The position of the weight 1e on the lever 10 determines the maximum pressure in the receiver. When this pressure is exceeded, the pressure on piston 4 overcomes the gravity of the weight and forces valve 8 open. Thus the engine thereafter simply works against atmospheric pressure instead of against the pressure in the receiver, the valve 2 preventing the escape of air from the receiver. By reason of the annular flange 8 of the valve 8 when the valve is open ever so slightly the impact of the escaping air forces the valve more fully open and keeps it open. Without this arrangement of the valve the device would be of questionable eificiency. An ordinary valve under the conditions of this device would simply open sufficiently to allow the escape of the air above the desired pressure, the engine during the time of the escape working against the normal pressure in the receiver. 3y means, however, of the present described form of valve the reaction of the outgoing air forces the valve open and keeps it open, so that the engine is relieved of more than eighty-five per cent. of the normal load. When the pressure in the receiver falls, the opposite result takes place, and the weight 14 forces the valve 8 to its seat, and the air from the compressor raises valve 2 and passes on to the receiver.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a controlling device for air or other similar fluids, a pipe or casing provided with a check-valve intermediate of its ends, a device moved by the pressure of the controlled fluid and so located that any leak of the fluid operating said device Will return to the pipe, a valve opening exteriorly to the pipe by the movement of said movable device and means adapted to apply pressure to the valve to resist its opening.

2. In a controlling device for air or other similar fluids, a pipe or casing provided with,

a check-valve intermediate of its ends, a cylinder on the receiving side of the check-valve provided with a movable piston, each end of the cylinder being in continuous communication with the pipe, one end of the cylinder being connected with the pipe beyond the check-valve and the other on the opposite side thereof, a valve opening exteriorly to the pipe by the movement of the piston and means adapted to apply pressure to the valve to resist its opening.

3. In a controlling device for air or other similar fluids, a pipe or casing provided with a check-valve intermediate of its ends, a cylinder on the receiving side of the check-valve provided with a movable piston, the cylinder being in continuous communication with said pipe on both sides of said piston, a valveopening exteriorly to the pipe connected to the piston opened by the movement thereof and means for applying pressure to the valve to oppose the movement of the piston.

4. In a controlling device for air or other similar fluids, a pipe or casing provided with a check-valve intermediate of its ends, a cylinder therein on the receiving side of the check-valve provided with a movable piston so located as to receive the pressure of the controlled fluid on both sides, said cylinder having a passage connecting its outer end and the pipe beyond the check-valve whereby the pressure in the pipe is communicated continuously to the end of the piston to move it, a valve opening exteriorly to the pipe connected to said piston, opened by the movement thereof and means for applying pressure to the valve to oppose the movement of the piston.

5. In a controlling device for air or other similar fluids, a pipe or casing provided with a check-valve intermediate of its ends, a cylinder therein on the receiving side of the check-valve provided with a movable piston so located as to receive the pressure of the controlled fluid on both sides, said cylinder having a passage connecting its outer end and the pipe beyond the check-valve whereby pressure in the pipe is communicated continuously to the end of the piston to move it, a valve opening exteriorly to the pipe connected to said piston, opened by the movement thereof and a weighted lever for applying pressure to the valve to oppose the movement of the piston.

6. In a controlling device for air or other similar fluids, a pipe or casing provided with a check-valve intermediate of its ends, a cylinder therein transverse to said pipe and beneath the check-valve provided with a piston movable in a direction transversely of the pipe so located as to receive the pressure of the controlled fluid onboth sides, said cylinder having a passage connecting its outer end and the pipe beyond the check-valve whereby pressure in the pipe is communicated continuously to the end of the piston to move it, a valve opening exterior-1y to the pipe con nected to said piston, opened by the movement thereof, said valve having a flange overhanging its seat, and means for applying pressure to the valve to oppose the movement of the piston.

7. In a controlling device for air or other similar fluids, a pipe or casing provided with a check-valve intermediate-of its ends, a cylinder therein at one side transverse to said pipe and beneath the check-valve provided with a piston movable in a direction transversely to the pipe and so located as to receive the pressure of the controlled fluid on both sides, said cylinder having a passage connecting its outer end and the pipe beyond the check-valve whereby pressure in the pipe is communicated continuously to the end of the piston to move it, a valve at the side of the pipeopposite to said piston and opening exteriorly to the pipe connected to said piston, opened by the movement thereof, said valve having a flange overhanging its seat, and a bell-crank lever provided with an adjustable weighting device on one of its arms and the other arm suitably engaging with the valve whereby the weighting device on the other arm opposes the movement of the piston and the opening of the valve.

'8. In a controlling device for air or other similar fluids, a pipe or casing provided with a check-valve intermediate of its ends, a cyl inder adjacent to and on the receiving side of the check-valve provided with a movable piston therein, said cylinder having a passage connecting its outer end and the pipe beyond the check-valve whereby pressure in the pipe is communicated to the end of the piston to move it, a valve having a flange overhanging its seat opening exteriorly to the pipe connected to said piston, opened by the move ment thereof and means for applying pressure to the valve to oppose the movement of the piston.

9. In a controlling device for air or other similar fluids, a pipe or casing provided with inder adjacent to and on the receiving side of the check-valve provided with a movable piston therein, said cylinder having a passage connecting its outer end and the pipe beyond the check-valve whereby pressure in the pipe is communicated to the end of the piston to move it, a valve having a flange overhanging its seat provided With a circumferential ring adapted to fit the exterior Wall of the valveseat, said valve opening exteriorly to the pipe connected to said piston, opened by the movement thereof and a Weighted lever for applying pressure to the valve to oppose the movement of the piston.

PATRICK H. REARDON. Witnesses:

WM. A. HEWITT, A. W. STAUFFER. 

